Emmy Awards 2014: 5 things to watch for

By Todd Leopold, CNN

Updated 9:07 AM ET, Tue August 26, 2014

Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – Nominations for the 66th Annual Primetime Emmys were announced on Thursday, July 10. HBO took a chance on submitting "True Detective" as a drama rather than miniseries, and it's paid off. The show's first season, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, gets a nod for Outstanding Drama Series alongside "Breaking Bad,""Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "House of Cards" and "Mad Men."

Emmy nominations 2014 – No surprise here: "The Big Bang Theory" was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series with some new contenders, like "Silicon Valley" and "Orange is the New Black." "Louie," "Veep" and Emmy favorite "Modern Family" round out the nominees in the category.

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Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:Bryan Cranston is the fan favorite as Walter White in "Breaking Bad." Now that the series is over, this is its last chance to take home an award. Also nominated: Jeff Daniels for "The Newsroom; Jon Hamm for "Mad Men," both Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey for "True Detective" and Kevin Spacey for "House of Cards."

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Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Lizzy Caplan broke into an extremely competitive category as Virginia Johnson on "Masters of Sex." She goes up against: Claire Danes of "Homeland," Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey," Julianna Margulies of "The Good Wife," Kerry Washington of "Scandal" and Robin Wright of "House of Cards."

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Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nominees are Louis C.K. of "Louie," Don Cheadle of "House of Lies," Ricky Gervais of "Derek," Matt LeBlanc of "Episodes," William H. Macy of "Shameless" and Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory."

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Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Emmys newcomer Taylor Schilling earned a nomination for her role in Netflix's standout series "Orange is the New Black." She goes up against Lena Dunham ("Girls"), Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie"), Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep"), Melissa McCarthy ("Mike & Molly") and the oft-nominated but yet-to-win Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation").

Emmy nominations 2014 – Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: Idris Elba scores a nod for his portrayal of John Luther on "Luther." He goes up against Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Dancing on the Edge"), Martin Freeman ("Fargo"), Billy Bob Thornton ("Fargo"), Mark Ruffalo ("The Normal Heart") and Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock: His Last Vow").

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Emmy nominations 201415 photos

Emmy nominations 2014 – Kristen Wiig was nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her role in the IFC spoof, "The Spoils of Babylon." Joining her were Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson, both in "American Horror Story: Coven," Helena Bonham Carter ("Burton and Taylor"), Minnie Driver ("Return to Zero"), and Cicely Tyson ("The Trip To Bountiful").

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Emmy nominations 2014 – Outstanding Variety Series nominations went to "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," the first time that program has been recognized by the Academy in years. It competes with "America's Got Talent," "Dancing with the Stars," many of this year's nominees' old stomping ground, "Saturday Night Live," and "The Voice."

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Emmy nominations 2014 – Outstanding Reality-Competition Program nominations went to "The Amazing Race" (pictured), "Dancing with the Stars", "Project Runway", "So You Think You Can Dance," "Top Chef" and "The Voice."

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Emmy nominations 2014 – An Outstanding Television Movie nod went to "The Normal Heart," which also is widely expected to winthe category on Emmys night. "Killing Kennedy," "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight," "Sherlock: His Last Vow" and "The Trip to Bountiful" also were nominated.

Emmy nominations 2014 – The documentary "Brave Miss World" was nominated for Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking along with The Amish: Shunned (American Experience), Hillsborough (30 For 30 Soccer Stories) and Life According to Sam.

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Story highlights

"Breaking Bad," "True Detective" facing off for best drama

Comedy categories are wide open

Tribute to Robin Williams scheduled for "In Memoriam"

Emmys to air Monday night on NBC

Will it be a "Bad" night -- or a "True" one?

The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out Monday night, and what was expected to be a coronation honoring the final season of AMC's "Breaking Bad" has emerged as something a little more competitive, thanks to HBO's "True Detective," the moody crime series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

It certainly received a good start. At the Creative Arts Emmys, which were given out August 16, "Detective" won four awards, including trophies for its cinematography and casting. "Breaking Bad" won just one, for its editing.

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1. All right, all right, all right, b*tch. "Breaking Bad" finished its run with acclaim as one of the best shows in TV history. Even the Internet liked the finale -- and the Internet doesn't like anything. Certainly that will be enough to earn it best drama, right?

But watch out for "True Detective." Even if "Breaking Bad" wins best drama, "Detective" might take other major categories. For all the praise he's received, Bryan Cranston has come up empty for best actor the last two years, losing to Jeff Daniels ("The Newsroom") last year and Damian Lewis ("Homeland") in 2012. This time he's facing both McConaughey and Harrelson, not to mention Daniels, perennial bridesmaid Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") and the wily Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards").

And what about "Game of Thrones"? Sure, the series got stiffed in the lead acting categories, but it's up in supporting slots -- for Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey -- as well as best drama. Moreover, it led all programs with 19 nominations. Moreover, they "would do things for their family you couldn't imagine."

2. Living is easy, comedy is hard. The comedy categories are incredibly competitive this year. Last year's winner, "Modern Family," is nominated once again, but this time there's a sense that it's ripe for a fall.

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But what will take its place? "Orange Is the New Black," Netflix's most popular show, could notch a win. So could "Veep," which has the benefit of last year's lead actress winner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. And, lurking in the corner, there's "Louie," which finished perhaps its most talked-about season -- one that had audiences wondering if they were, indeed, actually watching a comedy.

The performers' trophies are even more uncertain. Will best comedy actor go to "Big Bang's" Jim Parsons again -- he's won three of the last five -- or Louis C.K.? Will best comedy actress go to Louis-Dreyfus, "Parks and Recreation's" Amy Poehler or "Orange's" Taylor Schilling? Can Allison Janney, who won an Emmy at the Creative Arts event for her guest spot in "Masters of Sex," win another for "Mom"? It's enough to make you long for the certainty of "Parks and Recreation's" Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) -- who's not, incidentally, up for an Emmy. Not that he would sweat over it.

3. Remembering Robin Williams. The famed comedian and actor, who died August 11, will be remembered during the "In Memoriam" section in a tribute presented by Billy Crystal. Regardless of how tasteful, thoughtful or warmhearted the segment is, you can bet that someone will complain about it.

4. "Race" for the top. Once upon a time, there was essentially no competition in the reality-competition category: The winner was almost always "The Amazing Race." The popular series -- part travelogue, part game, all fun -- won nine out of 10 years from 2003 to 2012, except for 2010, when "Top Chef" took the title. But last year "The Voice" took home the trophy, and the battle isn't getting any easier. "The Voice" is up again, so is "Top Chef," and the other nominees include "Dancing With the Stars," "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Project Runway."

5. Rating Seth Meyers. This is the first time the "Late Night" host and former "SNL" newsman is hosting the Emmys, and no doubt some critics will have their knives out.

Meyers admits he's nervous.

"I think it would be weird if there were no nerves," he said. "It's a big undertaking and you want to make sure you treat it with the proper respect, and I think nerves constantly remind you to do that."

He's certainly hoping to do a good job, and he emphasizes: He will not sing.

"I can't! I wish I could!" he said.

Do it well, Seth, and maybe you'll get a shot.

The Emmys will air Monday on NBC. The show begins at 8 p.m. ET and airs from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre.